Vanderlinden coached 13 season at Penn State. He left the program at the end of last season. The departure was announced as a resignation although that was likely a technicality as Bill O'Brien looked to optimize his coaching staff. O'Brien later left the team himself to become a head coach for the Houston Texans.

While working under O'Brien, Vanderlinden was one of two coaches remaining from the Joe Paterno era. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr. was the other. Johnson declined a position on head coach James Franklin's staff a few weeks ago. He has since taken the assistant head coaching position at Ohio State under Urban Meyer.

Vanderlinden will join an Air Force program that won two games during the 2013-14 season.